Bag folding and sealing device



May 29, 1923. 1,456,836

V. SLEZAK BAG FOLDING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Nov.` 21 l921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z. Z j Z www www May 29, 1923 V. SLEZAK BAG FOLDING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i@ I ff 70,98 9 7? J7 M26 if mw 1 f Patented May 29, 1923.

UNITE ST 'VINCENT SLEZAK, OF CHICAGOyILLIN-DIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 NICHOLAS E..

FORD, F CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

BAG FOLDING .AND SEALING DEVICE. I

Application` led November 2l, 1921. Serial No. 516,788.

To all whom( t may concern:

Beit known that I, VINCENT SLEZAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have linvented certain new and useful Bag Folding and Sealing Devices, of which the following` is ma specification. l

The present improvements 1n the art mentioned have more particular reference to 0 machines or devices for folding an open edgel portion of a bag Ofpaper or similar iexible material, and, when desired, to seal or secure the folded parts in folded position.

Its principle object is to .provide simple and efficient mechanism for automatically folding such bags, or for folding and sealing them, after being positioned on the ma.- chine by the operator in an easy and convenient way.

lIn the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top view of a device containing these improvements in a practical and. advantageousl form; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fi l; Fig. 3 is a view from the left-hand en of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 fis -a larger and sectional view as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged perspective of the device which folds the open end of the bag, together with some associated parts; Fig. 6 is a still further enlarged and'lsectionail view as on the line 6-6 of Fig. l5, this -gure showin also a charged bag, conveyor parts, etc.;

ig. 7 is a similar sectional view as on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, the ligure showingan adjacent belt and a fragment of a bag partly 1n the folding groove'or recess; Fig. 8 is a sectional view as on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a front end view o the left-hand end of Fig. 5 showing a bag about to enter the forming-recess, and conveyors in fragment; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the right-hand end of Fig. 5

viewed from the opposite direction; and Fig. l1 is aperspective of a bag with a portion partially broken away and folded and sealed as by the machine.

The presentmachine is shown as mounted on a table carried by legs electric motor 17 is'secured .to the table and upon its armature shaft 18l is mounted a small pulley 19 carrying a belt 2O traveling upon the larger pulley 21 on the shaft 22.

This driving shaft 22 carries the beveled pinion 23 in mesh with the corresponding pinion 24 (Fig. V3), the latter being ri idl secured upon the vertical shaft 25, w ic shaft contains a spline 26 (Fig. 2J.

A pulley 30 (Fig. 1) is spline upon the shaft 25 for adjustin movements in upand-down directions while being carried rotatively by the shaft. The shaft 25 is mounted to rotate in a bearing 31 (Fig. 22 rigidly secured upon the table/15.` A sha t 33 similar to the shaft 25 is similarly mounted to rotatein 'a bearing 34 and has a Ysimilar spline 35 adopted to rotate the pulley 36 while permitting up-and-down adjustments of i Vertical guides 38 and 39 are rigidly secured at 40 and 41 respectively to the table 15. A bar 43 (Fig. 2) having cup-shaped ends adapted to receive the free ends of the shafts 25 and 33 for rotation is secured as by screws 46 to the upright rods or guides 38 and 39, thus stabilizing these guides and shafts. This tie member or bar 43 is omiting the upright shafts 25 and 33, and the two guides 38 and 39. 'A similar longitudinal plate 56 is positioned above the pulleys 25 and'36, and is similarly loosely mounted on the uprights 25, 33, 38 and 39 for vertical movement. The two plates 53 and 56 are held together as a rigid frame by -ted from Fig. 2 and other figures for clearmetal spacing blocks 60, shown by dotted l lines in Fig. 1, held in position by screws, and alsoby spacing bars 61 (Fig. 1) rigidly secured to the top and bottom plates.

From F ig. 4 it will be observed that the plates 53 and 56 accommodate between them a roller 63 having a trunnion or shaft 64 bearing in each plate. Fig. 1 shows four pairs of such rollers 63 and leaf springs 66 pressin against the upper trunnions td press tEe rollers, and thereby the belt 48 against the face surface of the bag `or folding or forming device 65 (Fig. 4). Fig. 4 sectionally shows that such leaf springs 66 operate against the lower trunnions 64 also.

rlhe bag-folding bar or' .member 65 is shown as comprising two plates a and b held rigidly together as by screws. It is made of two plates to facilitate the cutting of the the rear end. rl`he slant of the groove 68 has thus been specifically described in relation to other parts which are horizontally dissposed.

At the front end of the groove 68 a flaring guide device 70 is secured by screws to the bar 65- and has the function of engaging the upper free edge portion of the bag and leading vit into the slot or groove 68. The groove 68 continues to turn the bag part therein into tubular form, and to insure such tubular turning-over of the free edge portion of the bag at the beginning a short rounded-end stud or cylindrical member 71 is secured, as by brazing at 72, tothe member 65 in the groove 68 (Fig. 8). It is to be noted that the round stud 71, projecting a short distance from the groove 68, is of such diameter and is so positioned in the groove as to leave free space for the bag above and pivotally mounted at 80 upon the plate-likewell around that part of it lying in the groove. (Fig. 8.,)

At the rear end of the forming bar or member 65 (see right-hand end of Fig. 5 and Fig. 10) the groove 68 is substantially closed by a leaf spring 73 which yields when the tubularly-turned part of the bag comes against it and this spring initially presses the convolutions flat, one upon the other before they have opportunity to change their rolled condition.

Mechanism carried by the upper and lower frame plates 56 and 53 is provided for assisting in carrying the bags to the forming member 65 and similar mechanism for carrying them therefrom. One description will suflice for both, and for convenience the corresponding parts at the discharge end of the machine will be distinguished by the letter a added to the otherwise corresponding identifing numerals.

onsidering then, for description, the right-hand end of Fig. 1, the pulley 76 is rotatably mounted on a late-like integral extension 78 of the upper ongitudinal plate 56. The pulley 7 5 is mounted on a link 79 extension 81, riveted to the upper longitudinal plate 56. The endless belt 77 travels upon these pulleys 7 5 and 76. The roller 83 is mounted for rotation on a link 84 'pivoted at 8 5, upon the plate-extension 78. A coiled spring 86 draws the roller 83 against the belt 77 at the roller 76, and the coiled spring 88 draws the roller 7 5`and with it the belt 77 into contact with the belt l48 at the roller 30. Friction between the contacting belts 48 and 77 drives the latter.

Also carried by the upper longitudinal plate-like frame part 56 is the bag-turning or forming bar 65, whichis held by a pair of brackets 90 bolted to this top plate 56, each bracket having a downwardly-extending part 90a (Fig. 4) to which thel forming member 65 is attached as by screws. The arrangement is such that the belt .48 travels parallel with and frictionally upon the face of this forming member 65, being held in close contact therewith by the spring-pressed rollers 63.

I have thus far described, among` other parts, a unitary mechanism consisting of the upper and lower plates 56 and 53, the belts 48, 77 and 77a and the pulleys carrying them, the spring-controlledrollers 83, 83"l and the forming member 65 and connected parts, this unitary mechanism being shown as mounted for up and down adjustment on upright members projecting from the table. This unitary mechanism is raised and lowered through the medium of a screw shaft 95 threaded into a nut 96v secured upon the table, the screw shaft projecting upward and having the hand wheel 97 at the top. Between the upper and lower plates 56 and 53 (Fig. 4) is a collar 98 loosely occupying the space between the plates 56 and 53 and being rigidly secured, as by the pin 99, to the shaft 95. The rotation of the shaft therefore raises or lowers the shaft bodily and the sleeve 98 carries the unitary mechanism mentioned in one direction or the other. When this mechanism is adjusted to the height desired to accommodate a bag of some particular height it may be held there by means of the thumb screws 100 (Fig. 1) passing through the spacing blocks 60 and impinging the guide rods 38 and 39.

Mounted upon the underside of' the table 15 is the pulley 103 (Figs. 2 and 4) on which travels the bag-conveying endless belt 104 between a pair of guides 105 upon the table. rlhe belt 104 passes over a pulley 106 (Figs. 2 and 3) at the discharge end of the machine. The pulley 106 is mounted upon a short shaft 107 which terminates at 108, Fig. 3, and is shown as being on the same horizontal plane 'as is the driving shaft 22. The shaft 107, and with it the pulley x106 is rotated .by means of the chain 109 passing over the sprocket 110 on the shaft 107, this chain being driven by the sprocket .111 mounted on the driving shaft 22.

In view of the foregoing description the operation of the machine may be understood as follows: l

A bag 115 (Fig- 6)` partially filled with the desired quantity of roasted peanuts, seeds for planting, or any other commodity suitable for such containers. is placed upon the horizontally-traveling belt 104 which rests upon the table top and is thus maintained at a constant elevation throughout the travel of its upper part. The upper and open end portion of the bag to be sealed 'is placed upon the belt 104 and guided by the operator betweenl the roller 83 and the belt 76 shown at the right-hand end of Fig. 1. The small guide 116 (Fig-1) and the belt 7 7 maintain the bag upright as it progresses forward and it is then engaged by the belt 48 at the-wheel 30 aiid is continued forward both by the action of thatbelt and that of the horizontal conveyor belt 104, both belts traveling at the lsame rate. Immediately on its-passing from between the pulleys 75 and 30 the upper front end 117 of the bag (Figs. 9 and 11) is caught by the flaring guide device (Fig. 9) and as the bag travels forward this device 70 bends the upper edge of the bag over and around the pin or stud 71 and conducts `this bent-over end into the recess 68, and the bag part is thus started with artubular roll as illustrated in Fig. 6. The bottom conveyor 104 as well as the belt 48, both being timed to travel at the same rate, convey the bag forward, and inasmuch as the groove 68 slants toward the bottom conveyor, ortoward the path of travel of that .iart of the bag which is opposite the part being folded, the free edge portion of the bag is caused to roll more and .more upon itself in the recess 68 until the rear end of the 'bag has reached the point c (Fig. 5), whereupon no further rolling takes place.

'The bag is preferably made to continue to tra vel along a further distance, however, so to allow all parts of the rolled portion to adjust themselves to the desired tubular condition shown in Fig. 7, with the open end of the bag at' 117 rolled around to the top and within another turn of the material.

In this tubular shape the turned part of the bag impinges the leaf spring 3, which tlattens these convolutions, substantially as shown by the folded part of Fig. 11 giving the material a setin that shape. Thereupon the so-folded upper end of the bag is promptly pressed between the belt 77a and the belt 48 at the pulleys there and is carried forward between the roller 75 and pulley 76a. the pressure of the springs 8 8 and 86al flatteningl the convolutions moretightly upon each other, and thereupon the bag is discharged.

It is probable that under some Vconditions it may be desirable simply to fold such bags to close the ends, without sealing them, or

-to the groove 68.

with a viewto sealing them by a subsequent operation butin most instances lit will befound desirable to seal, at the same time, the folded end to preserve the contents against moisture or to maint-ain the package closed. In my practice I first pass the bags or envelopes through a gumming machine which ap lies a strip of gummy material, such as g ue, at 120, Fig. 11, from one side of the bag to the other. In order to moisten this substance for automatic sealing I provide the drip-waterreceptacle 122 (Figs. 5 land 6) with the duct 123 leading therefrom The small amount of water thus allowed to drip into the groove moistens the back 'or outside portion of the bag from one side tothe other progressively as it travels and this portionis subsequently turned into contact with the gummed portion which is on thev inner surface of the bag and therefore out of contact with the walls of the groove or channel 68, thus preserving the channel from being gummed. The pressure of the rollers at the discharge end of the machine seals from side to side.

It should be noted that the unitary mecha-A nism adjustably raised and lowered by the screw shaft is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 at substantially its lowest position, in which case it Would bel possible to put into the bags only a small quantity of the commodity to be packed. Adjustment is required only for the height of the bag, the device beingsuch as to operate equally upon bags of greater or less width.

The machine illustrated is capable of folding and sealing bags in a highly satisfactory manner at a high rate of production, being limited only by the capacity of the operator `tojplace bags upon the belt 104.

n' giving the bag a double fold a greater degree of security to the contents is obtained both from the mechanical standpoint and with respect to the exclusion of moisture in the air. This end of the bag is also thereby greatly strengthened for handling.

.I contemplate as being within the scope of the` invention herein set forth various changes, modiications and departures from what is specifically illustrated `and described. as indicated `in the appended claims I claim:l

1. In a bag-folding machine, the combination of means forcarrying a bag with the edge portion to be folded in proximity to a forming'member having an inclined recess therein substantially circular in cross view and opening .toward the bag as it passes the bag effectively along said forming member, means for conducting into said recess the edge of the bag y to be folded, means for holding the bag in contact with the former as the bag travels thereagainst, the inclined recess being so arranged that as the bag normally travels for- -'tion of a horizontally-disposed traveling forming means in the path of travel of the conveyor on which a bag to sealed may -be placed for movement forward with the open edge of the bag to be sealed upward, a traveling belt conveyor yat one side of the path of travel of 'the bag, a former at one side of the path of travel of the bag, said Aformer having means 1for turning the bag edge over progressivelyl as the bag travels in association with it, and meansfor pressing the folded portion of the bag flat.

3. In a bag-folding machine, the combination of an endless belt conveyor having its top portion horizontally'disposed, traveling means associated withsaid conveyor for receiving a bag resting on the conveyor and holding it upright with the free edge thereof to be sealed uppermost. a former for turning the free edge of the bag over, means for guiding such free edge into association with the former, the former having provisions for turning 'over the free edge of the bag progressively as the bag is carried forward on the conveyor.

4. In a. bag-folding machine, the combination of means for carrying a bag forward in a substantially horizontal vdirection with its free edge uppermost, said means including an endless b'elt conveyor substantiallyvertically disposed and adapted to press against the'side ofthe bag inits forward travel,

upper edge of the bag ,to be folded and adapted to turn over said upper edge progressively as the bag travels.

5. In a bag-folding machine, the combination of an endless belt conveyoriarranged with a portion thereof traveling horizontally and arranged to receive a" bag to be sealed and carry it in a path of travel, a former in the path of travel of they free edge of the bag, said former including means .for turning the` edge of the bag over progressively as it travels, said means including the provision of an inclined recess adapted toreceive more and more of the free edge portion of the bag as the bag travels, `means for holding the bag in association with said `former` means for pressing the turned portions flat, and means for automatically ,fas-

' tening together flattened portions of the bag.

6. In a bag-folding machine. the combination of means for carrying a bag with the free edge portion thereof to be folded moving in a given path of travel, a. forming device adapted to engage such free edge portion of the bag and fold it over progressively as the bag travels, 'means' for adjusting said former in directions toward and away from the conveyor whereby bags of matassa different roportions may be folded by the same mac ine.`

7. In a bag-folding machine, the combil nation of means for carrying a bag in a substantially horizontal direction with its upper free edge to lbe folded moving in a path of travel, a former in the path of travel of 'zor the upper free edge portion of the bag, said c former having a groove therein adapted to f form tubularly such free edge portion of the bag progressively as the bag travels, said groove being inclined from a point at a given distancey from the conveyor to a point sociation with the former in its course of travel, and means for pressing flat the tubularly-formed free edge portion of the bag. 8. A- forminsr device forturning over the free edge portion of a bag'to be folded comprising a bar having a recess therein which v is substantially circular 4in cross view, said recess opening from end to end 1nto the face aov surface of the Vformer whereby a bag may travel alongside the Vformer from end to end againstsaid face ,surface with a`free edge portion of the bag extending linto said recess, said former being inclined with respect to the b a-g-carryingig; means whereby the recess approaches the carrying means 1n the direction of bag travel. i l

9. The comb`nation with a bag-folding device-having` a recess adapted to turn the free edge of a bag into tubular form, of a flaring guideadapted to engage an' advancing free edge portion of a bag to be folded and'bend it over -andllead it intosaid recess, and means associated with the guide for providing that tlle'free edge portion of the bag shall turn into tubular form at the beginning of the operation.

10. A bag-forming device having a recess ftherein substantially circular in cross view, the recess opening throughout its length into an outer surface of the former, a guide duct it to said recess, a cylindrical member extending from the recess and spaced therefrom where the recess opens into said outer surface whereby the free edge of afba'g may extend through the opening of the recess andV partially around said member at the 'beginning of the recess. ,Y

11. In a bag-folding machine, the combinationv of a horizontally-disposed conveyor A adapted to receive a bag and carry it with its upper edge to be sealed moving in a substantially horizontal path of travel, a-former extending alongside of the path of travel of tHe upper portion of the bag, the former having a groove inclined downwardly from a forward portion to a more rearward portion of the former, the groove bein substantially circular in cross view an opening into the surface of the former from end to end of the groove adjacent to the path of travel of the bag, means for holding the upper edge portions of the bag in engagement with the former as thebag' travels, and

means for adjusting the former in vertical.

directions.

12. In a bag-folding machine, the combination of means for carrying a bag in a given path of travel with the free edge thereof to be folded extending in a direction away from the carrier, traveling belts opposed to each other at two places in the path of travel for holding the bag upright, means in the path of travel of the free` edge portion of the bag for turning such free edge portion over progressively as the bag travels, and means for sealing the turned-over edge portions of the bag.

13. In a bag-folding machine, the combination of means for carrying a bag whereby the bag has a free edge portion to be folded moving in a path of travel, a former in the path of travel of such free edge portion and adapted to fold such portion over progressively as the ba travels, means for a plying a substance to t e bag progressively or sealing the turned-over portions as the bag travels, a traveling belt arranged to hold the bag upright during its travel, spring-pressed rollers for holding said belt in contact with the bag as it travels, and means for pressing the turned-over portions of the bag one upon the other for flattening and sealing the same.

14. The combination of an endless belt conveyor having its upper part horizontally disposed and'adapted to receive a bag to be sealed with the free edge portion of the bag uppermost, meansincluding an endless belt for holding the bag upright until it substantially reachesa former, a former in the path of travel of the upper edge portion of the bag, said former having a forming groove opening to a side surface of the former, means for leading the free ed e portion of the bag in said groove, said ormer extending longltudinally in the direction of the conveyor and being so.. positioned that the bag is in association with the former as it travels in the conveyor, the groove in said former being inclined downwardly from a forward portion to a more rearward portion of the former, endless belt means for holding the bag in association with the former as it travels, and means for adjustably varying the distance vbetween the former and the horizontal conveyor to accommodatel bags of diferent dimensions.

VINCENT sLEzAK. 

